Parag Desai, Wagh Bakri scion dies after attack by street dogs

Ahmedabad : Tragedy struck as Parag Desai, the Executive Director of the renowned Wagh Bakri Tea Group, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital in Ahmedabad on October 22. The 49-year-old scion of the Wagh Bakri family leaves behind his wife, Vidisha, and daughter, Parisha.

The distressing incident occurred on October 15 when Desai, in an attempt to evade a group of street dogs that had attacked him, fell outside his residence, resulting in a severe brain hemorrhage, as reported by the Ahmedabad Mirror. A vigilant security guard quickly informed the family, and Desai was swiftly transported to the nearby Shelby Hospital for immediate medical attention. After a day of observation, he was transferred to Zydus Hospital for surgical intervention, according to sources cited in the paper.

Tragically, Parag Desai’s condition deteriorated over the following seven days, and he was placed on a ventilator until his passing, as reported by The Times of India, citing informed sources.

His final journey came to an end at the private hospital in Ahmedabad, and his last rites were performed at the Thaltej crematorium at 9 am, as mentioned in the Ahmedabad Mirror report.

Parag Desai, the son of Rasesh Desai, the Managing Director of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group, was a dynamic leader with over 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship. He steered the company’s sales, marketing, and export divisions, contributing to the firm’s impressive turnover exceeding ₹1,500 crore.

Desai was not only a stalwart in the tea industry but also a prominent voice in various industry associations, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). His extensive knowledge as a tea taster and evaluator was widely acknowledged. Additionally, he held an MBA from Long Island University, USA, as affirmed by the Wagh Bakri website.